In the political realm there's something known as "the full Grassley". Named after the senior Senator from Iowa, it means hitting all 99 counties of Iowa in one campaign cycle. For most candidates, it's a prerequisite, but even that isn't enough for bragging rights. Others tout how they've had stops in 99 counties, not just driving through and stepping out of their car. Ted Cruz didn't quite pull off "the full Grassley" in one trip but he got nearly a third of the way there.

Hitting a new town every few hours can be disorienting. You get on a bus at one location, unload, look for photos while you wait for the candidate to arrive, try to remember what day of the week it is or what city you're in, shoot some more, pack up, and do it all over again. It also is hard to tell if there's actually anyone else running for the Republican nomination anymore because you're in a bubble.

Sadly for me, there were other people that Reuters needed to cover and after four days, I had to fall short of completing the "full Cruz". However, the last two days did give me some of my favorite photos of the campaign cycle and I'm sharing them below.

Retired United States Secret Service Special Agent Brian Hunter, a private security contractor for U.S. Republican presidential candidate Ted Cruz, stands outside the campaign bus ahead of a stop at Lantern Coffeehouse in Sibley, Iowa January 6, 2016.

U.S. Republican presidential candidate Ted Cruz talks to Oliver Jensen, 5, as he sits on the shoulders of his father Ryan Jensen after a campaign event at Clay County Regional Event Center Ballroom in Spencer, Iowa January 6, 2016. REUTERS/Mark Kauzlarich

Rick Tyler, communications director for U.S. Republican presidential candidate Ted Cruz places a Ted Cruz logo sticker on the camper of America's Renewable Future, a pro-Ethanol group, in Storm Lake, Iowa January 7, 2016. The group handed out anti-Cruz literature at the first three days of his bus tour through Iowa, forcing Cruz to explain his position on energy subsidies.

Fog covers the road between Storm Lake, Iowa and Pocahontas, Iowa where U.S. Republican presidential candidate Ted Cruz will hold his first campaign event of the fourth day of his bus tour through Iowa January 7, 2016.

Deb Bolding waves a flag as she waits for U.S. Republican presidential candidate Ted Cruz to arrive at a campaign stop at a Pizza Ranch restaurant in Pocahontas, Iowa January 7, 2016. REUTERS/Mark Kauzlarich

Jessica McQuiggen (L) and Rylee Eisenbartch peer out the window for a glimpse of U.S. Republican presidential candidate Cruz as he arrives at a Pizza Ranch restaurant in Pocahontas, Iowa January 7, 2016. REUTERS/Mark Kauzlarich

Restaurant staff carry the meals for the staff of U.S. Republican presidential candidate Ted Cruz (not shown) as he speaks at a Rustix Restaurant and Event Center in Humboldt, Iowa January 7, 2016. REUTERS/Mark Kauzlarich

People protest the arrival of U.S. Republican presidential candidate Ted Cruz ahead of his campaign stop at the Webster City Municipal Airport in Webster City, Iowa January 7, 2016. REUTERS/Mark Kauzlarich

A reporter walks through the snow outside the window of an airplane hanger ahead of media availability for U.S. Republican presidential candidate Ted Cruz at the Webster City Municipal Airport in Webster City, Iowa January 7, 2016. REUTERS/Mark Kauzlarich